Chapter 286 Ah Bao, you must hold on and wait for your mother to come back.
Seeing that her mother's expression was not right, and that she had not done as her mother had said, Yunxiu knelt down first, grabbed Shu Linglang's skirt, and cried out in tears, "Mother! You've finally come! Your beloved Xue'er... Xue'er... was cruelly murdered by that Lu Zhaoruo!"
She pointed to the dog's corpse in the tall iron cage, her sobs growing more heart-wrenching: "That was your most beloved Xue'er! You always told Xiu'er that it was intelligent and had been with you for so many years, even more considerate than some people... Now, now it has died so tragically! Mother, you must seek justice for Xue'er!"
Shu Linglang lowered her eyes, her cold gaze sweeping over her daughter who was crying "sincerely" at her feet, then over the corpse of the mastiff on the ground, and finally settling on Lu Zhaoruo.
She ignored Yunxiu's cries and walked straight up to Lu Zhaoruo.
She lowered her eyes, looking down at the kneeling figure with a cold, icy gaze.
Suddenly, she raised her foot and stomped hard on Lu Zhaoruo's blood-stained hand with the sole of her shoe!
Lu Zhaoruo's body trembled violently, and she felt a sharp pain, but she bit her lower lip tightly and swallowed back a groan of pain. Fine beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on her forehead.
“Raise your head.”
Linglang's voice was devoid of any warmth.
Lu Zhaoruo raised her head as instructed. Although her face was stained with blood, her eyes were clear and bright like cold stars. She met Shu Linglang's gaze without fear. There was no pleading in her eyes, only unyielding spirit and pride.
When Linglang met that gaze, she felt a sudden, inexplicable flutter in her heart.
That look in her eyes... was somewhat similar to the fierce determination she had when she was young, struggling to survive in the deep palace and refusing to be inferior to others.
Just then, Abao rolled off Lu Zhaoruo's weak embrace and onto the ground.
It crawled over little by little, trying in vain with its tiny paws to push away Shu Linglang's feet.
Shu Linglang frowned slightly, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes, as if afraid of being tainted by filth, and withdrew her foot.
"Get up."
Her tone was indifferent.
Despite the excruciating pain in her hand, Lu Zhaoruo slowly stood up, her body slightly unsteady, but her back straight.
"Was it you who killed my Xue'er?"
Linglang asked, her gaze sharp as a knife.
"yes."
Lu Zhaoruo answered decisively, without offering any explanation.
With a sharp "slap," Linglang raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap to Lu Zhaoruo's face!
The force was so great that Lu Zhaoruo turned her head to the side, and blood immediately seeped from the corner of her mouth.
Seeing this, Yunxiu behind him immediately showed a relieved and smug expression.
Shu Linglang's gaze swept over Lu Zhaoruo, then glanced at Abao on the ground, and continued in a cold and hard voice: "My son hit your cat, and you killed my beloved dog. Now, I have also hit you. This matter ends here, and we are even."
She knew perfectly well what was going on.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are becoming increasingly wary of him. If this matter escalates further and Yongfu and Xiao Yeming seize upon it to report to the Emperor, it will be a true catastrophe.
The momentary pleasure of seeking revenge is fleeting; the wise move is to decisively cut losses and quell the unrest.
She has to swallow this loss.
Yunxiu stared in shock, her eyes wide, and grabbed Shu Linglang's sleeve in frustration: "Mother! How can this be allowed to end! She killed Xue'er!"
Shu Linglang looked at her daughter, a stern look flashing in her eyes, but it ultimately turned into a helpless sigh. She said in a low voice, "This matter ends here. You should not be so domineering anymore."
Her tone softened slightly, but it carried a command: "Go and apologize to Madam Lu."
Yunxiu looked unwilling, but under her mother's imposing gaze, she could only grit her teeth and give Lu Zhaoru a hasty bow, her voice barely audible: "I'm sorry, I acted impulsively just now and hurt your cat."
Lu Zhaoruo watched this scene quietly, feeling no joy, but rather a complex sadness.
She even felt a pang of envy.
Yunxiu is so foolish and willful, yet she has such a powerful mother who plans and protects her in every way.
And what about his own mother?
Fortunately, I still have Abao in my arms.
But when she looked down at A Bao's small, bloodied body and felt its faint breath, she burst into tears again. She realized that she couldn't even protect A Bao.
At this moment, Linglang's voice rang out again, her tone regaining the composure of the Eldest Princess: "Madam Lu was frightened today. My daughter's behavior has truly troubled me. Please rest and recuperate at home for a few days. I will certainly arrange for the best imperial physicians to treat you, ensuring you leave healthy and with a rosy complexion. Otherwise, I will have difficulty explaining myself when General Xiao and Yongfu inquire about it in the future."
Lu Zhaoruo knew perfectly well that this was nothing more than "house arrest."
The so-called treatment was nothing more than a pretext for carrying out a poisonous scheme.
This eldest princess is just as wicked as her daughter!
Fortunately.
Ah Bao understands human language and can speak human language, and he told me.
Linglang continued, her tone seemingly casual: "Besides, I've grown to love the dress you made for me last time. I've invited you to my residence every time to discuss needlework techniques and patterns, but you're always too busy. Today, it's quite a coincidence."
Even in the past, Yunxiu had repeatedly tried to make things difficult for him by sending him into the mansion.
The Grand Princess helped her take care of everything.
Lu Zhaoruo had to admit that the Grand Princess truly doted on Yunxiu.
Having no reason to refuse, she could only agree: "Your Highness is too kind; I humbly accept your command."
She changed the subject and said earnestly, "But my cat is too badly injured. I beg Your Highness to have mercy and allow someone to take it back to my house for treatment."
She can stay, but Abao absolutely cannot stay.
Yunxiu snorted coldly: "A beast, just send it away."
Linglang nodded slightly; she naturally wouldn't care about a dying cat.
"Mother!"
Ah Bao spoke weakly again: "They want to lock you up and light poison incense...you'll die after inhaling it for five days..."
Lu Zhaoruo gently pressed her cheek against Abao's blood-stained fur, responding in her heart, "Mother knows."
“Abao wants to stay...to keep her mother company…”
Abao's voice was choked with sobs.
Lu Zhaoruo felt as if her heart was being torn apart, but she resolutely refused with her will: "No! You will also be poisoned if you stay! And you are so badly injured, they will never truly save you! You must go back immediately, find Dongrou, and have her... have her beg Princess Yongfu!"
She had originally considered Xiao Yeming and Duke Di, but both were ruled out for various reasons. At this moment, Princess Yongfu was the only possible outside help to break the deadlock.
"Ah Bao understands... Ah Bao will definitely hold on... until Mother comes back..."
Ah Bao promised, despite the excruciating pain in its internal organs and knowing it might not make it to that moment.
At this moment, Yunxiu gave a wink, and Pucao timidly stepped forward.
With great reluctance, Lu Zhaoru handed Abao over, tears streaming down her face: "Abao, be good, you must hold on... wait for Mother to come back, okay?"
Ah Bao gazed deeply into her emerald green eyes: "Mother... Ah Bao will definitely wait for you..."
Cattail took the light, bloodied little body and hurriedly left.
Lu Zhaoruo stared in the direction it had disappeared, her fingernails digging deeply into her palm.
She prayed silently.
Ah Bao, you must hold on and wait for your mother to come back.
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